Acuña, Harris' homers hint at moving past tough luck

Braves stars show signs of breaking out of early-season slumps with key home runs in win over Guardians

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:07am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball player hitting a home run, with the action broken down into overlapping planes of bright, vibrant colors.Acuña and Harris' timely home runs provide a spark for the Braves' offense as they look to overcome early-season struggles.Atlanta Today

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II, two of the Braves' top hitters, hit home runs on Friday night to help Atlanta defeat the Guardians 11-5. The homers were encouraging signs that the previously tough-luck duo may be starting to turn their seasons around after slow starts.

Why it matters

Acuña and Harris are critical pieces of the Braves' lineup, and their early-season struggles have been a concern for the team. If they can get going at the plate, it would provide a major boost to Atlanta's offense and their chances of contending in the NL East.

The details

Acuña entered Friday hitting just .204 with a .576 OPS, while Harris had a .298 slugging percentage that was 274 points lower than his expected slugging percentage. But both players delivered key home runs in Atlanta's six-run sixth inning, with Acuña hitting a leadoff shot and Harris capping the rally with a two-run blast. The Braves have won 9 of their first 14 games despite the slow starts from Acuña, Harris, and Austin Riley.

  • Acuña's home run on Friday came in his 52nd at-bat of the season, his second-longest homerless stretch to begin a year.
  • Harris' homer was his second of the season and just his third extra-base hit.

The players

Ronald Acuña Jr.

A star outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and the 2023 National League MVP.

Michael Harris II

The 2022 National League Rookie of the Year, an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves.

Matt Olson

A power-hitting first baseman for the Atlanta Braves who hit a 441-foot, two-run homer in the sixth inning.

Austin Riley

A third baseman for the Atlanta Braves who has also gotten off to a slow start this season.

Drake Baldwin

A player for the Atlanta Braves who has helped pace the team's offense early in the season.

Mauricio Dubón

A player for the Atlanta Braves who has helped pace the team's offense early in the season.

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What they’re saying

“It always feels like it's just a matter of time before a healthy Acuña gets on a roll.”

— Mark Bowman, MLB.com writer

The takeaway

Acuña and Harris' home runs on Friday night were encouraging signs that the Braves' two young stars may be starting to break out of their early-season slumps. If they can get going at the plate, it would provide a major boost to Atlanta's offense and their chances of contending in the NL East.